Best Font for a Resume: 15 Professional Resume Fonts + Sizes

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What’s the best font for a resume? Which fonts should you avoid? Should you go with a serif or sans-serif font? And what’s the right resume font size if you want your application to look professional and easy to read?

These are smart questions and they matter a lot more than most job seekers think.

When people work on a resume, they usually focus on the big things first: work experience, skills, achievements, and formatting. That makes sense. But the font you choose plays a bigger role than it seems. It shapes how your resume looks, how easy it is to scan, and how quickly a recruiter can absorb your information.

And that matters because recruiters don’t spend several minutes reading every resume line by line. In most cases, they scan quickly. If your font is too small, too fancy, too cramped, or just hard on the eyes, your resume can feel harder to read even if your experience is excellent.

A poor font choice can make your resume look:

• cluttered

• outdated

• unprofessional

• difficult to skim

On the other hand, the right font instantly improves readability and presentation. It helps your resume feel clean, polished, and professional. It also makes it easier for hiring managers to find the most important parts of your application fast your job titles, accomplishments, skills, and qualifications.

In short, your font choice won’t get you hired by itself, but it can absolutely help your resume make a better first impression.

This guide breaks everything down in a practical, no-confusion way. You’ll learn which resume fonts work best, which ones to avoid, how to choose between serif and sans-serif styles, and what font size makes your resume look polished without wasting space.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to choose a resume font that looks professional, reads easily, and helps your application stand out for the right reasons.

What You’ll Learn in This Resume Font Guide

• The best fonts for a resume (and when to use each one)

• Fonts to avoid on a resume

• The right resume font size (and cover letter font size)

• Serif vs sans-serif: which is better for your resume?

• Tips for ATS-friendly resume fonts

• How to pair fonts without making your resume look cluttered

What Is the Best Font for a Resume?

The best font for a resume is one that is:

• Easy to read

• Professional

• Widely available

• ATS-friendly

• Clean in both print and PDF formats

For most job seekers, the safest and strongest choices are:

• Calibri

• Cambria

• Arial

• Georgia

• Verdana

• Garamond

These fonts are popular for a reason: they look professional and stay readable across devices and software.

That said, there isn’t just one “perfect” resume font. The best choice depends on your industry, your resume layout, and the impression you want to make.

How to Choose the Best Font for Your Resume

Before you pick a font, it helps to understand what makes a resume font work.

1) Use the Right Resume Font Size

Font size is just as important as the font itself.

If your text is too small, recruiters will struggle to read it. If it’s too large, your resume can look unprofessional and waste space.

Best resume font size guidelines

• Body text: 10.5–12 pt (11 or 12 pt is ideal for most resumes)

• Section headings: 12–14 pt

• Your name at the top: 18–24 pt

If your resume is content-heavy and you need more room, you can go down to 10 pt with a highly readable font like Verdana, Tahoma, or Calibri but try not to go smaller than that.

Best cover letter font size

Use the same font family as your resume, and keep your cover letter body text at:

• 11–12 pt for body text

• 13–14 pt for headings (if any)

Consistency between your resume and cover letter makes your application look polished.

2) Use Bold and Italics Strategically

Formatting helps guide the reader’s eye, but too much formatting makes your resume harder to scan.

Best practices

• Use bold for job titles, section headings, and key achievements.

• Use italics sparingly for secondary details (such as city/state or dates if your template uses that style).

• Avoid underlining. It adds visual clutter and can make text look like a hyperlink.

The goal is simple: make important information stand out without overwhelming the page.

3) Choose Between Serif and Sans-Serif Fonts

This is one of the most common resume formatting questions.

Serif fonts

Serif fonts have small “feet” or strokes at the ends of letters (like Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond).

They usually feel:

• More traditional

• More formal

• More academic or conservative

Sans-serif fonts

Sans-serif fonts don’t have those extra strokes (like Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana).

They usually feel:

• More modern

• Cleaner

• Better for digital reading

Which is better for a resume?

Both can work well.

• Choose serif if you want a more classic, formal tone (law, academia, finance, government).

• Choose sans-serif if you want a modern, clean look (tech, marketing, startups, design, operations).

If you’re unsure, a clean sans-serif font is usually the safest choice.

4) Make Sure Your Font Is ATS-Friendly

An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) scans resumes before a human sees them. While ATS software usually handles standard fonts well, custom or decorative fonts can cause problems.

ATS-friendly font tips

• Stick to common, professional fonts

• Avoid script or handwritten fonts

• Avoid symbol-heavy or stylized typefaces

• Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills)

• Save as PDF only if the employer allows it (otherwise use DOCX)

Good formatting and a clean font help both the ATS and the recruiter.

5) Pair Resume Fonts Carefully (Optional)

Using two fonts can look great but only if done well.

A common approach is:

• One font for your name and section headings

• One font for your body text

Good font pairing examples

• Georgia + Calibri

• Garamond + Arial

• Cambria + Verdana

• Helvetica + Georgia

Keep contrast subtle. Don’t mix two flashy fonts or two fonts that compete for attention.

15 Best Fonts for a Resume (With Pros and Cons)

Here are 15 professional resume fonts that work well across industries.

1) Calibri

Calibri is one of the most popular resume fonts because it feels modern, professional, and easy to read.

Pros

• Clean and readable

• Great for digital resumes

• Commonly available in Microsoft Word

Cons

• Very common, so it may not stand out

Best for

• Business

• Consulting

• Administration

• Corporate roles

  
  

2) Cambria

Cambria is a strong serif font designed for readability on screens and in print. It looks polished without feeling old-fashioned.

Pros

• Excellent readability at smaller sizes

• Professional and formal

• Works well for dense resumes

Cons

• Can feel traditional for creative fields

Best for

• Finance

• Law

• Healthcare

• Analytical roles

  
  

3) Helvetica

Helvetica is a classic sans-serif font with a clean, premium feel. It’s widely loved in branding and design.

Pros

• Sleek and highly readable

• Looks modern and polished

• Great visual balance

Cons

• Not always available on all Windows systems by default

Best for

• Branding

• PR

• Marketing

• Client-facing roles

  
  

4) Georgia

Georgia is a serif font that remains highly readable on screens. It’s a solid choice for resumes sent as PDFs.

Pros

• Easy to read

• Works across devices

• More personality than Times New Roman

Cons

• Popular, so not very distinctive

Best for

• Management

• Business

• Marketing

• Retail leadership

  
  

5) Verdana

Verdana was designed for screen readability, which makes it a strong resume choice especially in smaller font sizes.

Pros

• Very readable on screens

• Clear letter spacing

• Good for dense resumes

Cons

• Less elegant than some alternatives

Best for

• Tech

• Education

• Science

• Web-related roles

  
  

6) Garamond

Garamond is a timeless serif font with a refined, professional look. It’s a favorite for people who want something classic but not overused.

Pros

• Elegant and professional

• Reads well in print

• Slightly more distinctive than common defaults

Cons

• Can feel old-school in ultra-modern industries

Best for

• Leadership roles

• Editorial positions

• Operations

• Formal business roles

  
  

7) Trebuchet MS

Trebuchet MS is a friendly, readable sans-serif font with a modern feel and slightly softer edges.

Pros

• Clear and approachable

• Good readability

• Widely available

Cons

• Less common in traditional resume templates, so spacing may require tweaking

Best for

• Customer service

• HR

• Sales

• Reception/front desk roles

  
  

8) Lato

Lato is a modern sans-serif font that feels both professional and warm. It’s popular for online resumes and design-conscious applications.

Pros

• Clean and modern

• Great visual balance

• Works well in contemporary templates

Cons

• Not installed by default on every device/software setup

Best for

• Tech

• Media

• Hospitality

• Creative business roles

  
  

9) Book Antiqua

Book Antiqua is a serif font with a classic, polished style and excellent readability.

Pros

• Professional and elegant

• Easy to read

• Good alternative to Palatino

Cons

• Can feel too formal for modern startups

Best for

• Research

• Education

• Writing

• Administrative leadership

  
  

10) Didot

Didot is stylish and elegant, but it should be used carefully. It works best when used lightly (headings or name) rather than throughout the body text.

Pros

• Sophisticated and distinctive

• Great for visual impact in headings

Cons

• Not ideal for long body text

• Can feel too decorative if overused

Best for

• Fashion

• Creative industries

• Design-heavy resumes

  
  

11) Roboto

Roboto is a modern sans-serif font developed for digital interfaces. It’s clean, versatile, and excellent for online-first applications.

Pros

• Very readable on screens

• Modern and balanced

• Great for digital resumes/portfolios

Cons

• Common in tech, so it may feel less unique

Best for

• Software/tech

• Marketing

• Content creation

• Product roles

  
  

12) Tahoma

Tahoma is compact and highly readable, making it a good choice if you need to fit more content without sacrificing clarity.

Pros

• Excellent readability at smaller sizes

• Great for content-heavy resumes

• Widely available in Windows

Cons

• Can feel tight in long paragraphs if spacing is too narrow

Best for

• Project management

• Sales

• Operations

• Customer support

  
  

13) Palatino

Palatino is a serif font with a professional, slightly refined tone. It’s easy to read and works well for formal resumes.

Pros

• Elegant and readable

• Strong print performance

• Great for traditional fields

Cons

• Can feel overly formal for some modern roles

Best for

• Legal

• Executive roles

• Academic positions

• Editorial work

  
  

14) Times New Roman

Times New Roman is classic, familiar, and universally accepted. It’s not exciting, but it’s safe.

Pros

• Available everywhere

• Very ATS-friendly

• Strong for formal industries

Cons

• Overused

• Can make your resume look dated

Best for

• Government

• Law

• Accounting

• Conservative industries

  
  

15) Arial

Arial is one of the safest resume fonts you can use. It’s clean, readable, and works across virtually every system.

Pros

• Universal compatibility

• Easy to read

• Great for digital and print use

Cons

• Generic and common

Best for

• Administrative roles

• HR

• Logistics

• General professional resumes

  
  

Fonts to Avoid on a Resume

Even if a font looks fun or creative, it usually doesn’t belong on a resume.

Here are the types of fonts to avoid:

1) Decorative or novelty fonts

Examples:

• Comic Sans

• Papyrus

• Curlz MT

• Jokerman

These fonts look unprofessional and distract from your qualifications.

2) Script or handwritten fonts

Examples:

• Brush Script

• Lucida Handwriting

• Pacifico

They may look stylish, but they’re hard to read and can break ATS parsing.

3) Heavy display fonts

Examples:

• Impact

• Bebas Neue (for body text)

• Blackletter/Gothic fonts

These are too bold and attention-grabbing for resume body content.

4) Ultra-thin fonts

Thin fonts can look elegant, but they often become hard to read when printed or viewed on smaller screens.

5) Uncommon custom fonts (unless embedded)

If a recruiter’s device doesn’t have the font installed, your resume may display incorrectly. Stick to common fonts or use a PDF with embedded fonts (if accepted).

Best Resume Font Size by Section

If you want a simple setup that works, use this:

• Name: 20 pt

• Section headers: 13–14 pt

• Job titles/company names: 11–12 pt (bold)

• Body text: 11 pt

• Small secondary details: 10 pt (dates, city/state, optional)

This creates visual hierarchy without making your resume look crowded.

Serif vs Sans-Serif for a Resume: Which Should You Choose?

If you’re still deciding, use this quick guide:

Choose a serif font if you want:

• A traditional, formal look

• A resume for law, academia, finance, or government

• A more classic tone

Best serif options: Cambria, Georgia, Garamond, Palatino

Choose a sans-serif font if you want:

• A modern, clean look

• A resume for tech, startups, marketing, operations, or sales

• Better screen readability

Best sans-serif options: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Roboto

There’s no universal winner. The best choice is the one that matches your industry and keeps your resume easy to read.

Should Your Resume and Cover Letter Use the Same Font?

Yes ideally, they should.

Using the same font (or a matching font pair) across your resume and cover letter makes your application feel consistent and professional.

Best practice

• Use the same font family

• Keep body text at 11–12 pt

• Use the same style for headings (bold, capitalization, spacing)

That consistency helps your documents look like a polished set rather than separate files.

Quick Resume Font Tips That Instantly Improve Readability

Before you send your resume, check these:

• Use one font (or at most two)

• Keep body text at 11–12 pt

• Use bold for emphasis, not too much italics

• Leave enough white space

• Avoid cramming too much text

• Test your resume on desktop and mobile

• Save in the format requested by the employer

A good font won’t fix weak content but it will make strong content easier to read and easier to trust.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Fonts

What is the most professional font for a resume?

Calibri, Cambria, Arial, Georgia, and Garamond are all professional resume fonts. The best one depends on your industry and resume style.

Is 10 pt font too small for a resume?

10 pt is the minimum for most resumes. It can work with highly readable fonts like Verdana or Tahoma, but 11–12 pt is usually better.

Is Times New Roman okay for a resume?

Yes. It’s still acceptable, especially in traditional industries. It’s safe and readable, but it can feel dated compared to newer options like Cambria or Calibri.

Can I use two fonts on my resume?

Yes, but keep it simple. Use one font for headings and another for body text. Make sure they complement each other and don’t compete visually.

What font is best for an ATS-friendly resume?

The best ATS-friendly resume fonts are common, readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Georgia, Verdana, and Times New Roman.

Key Takeaway

Choosing the best font for your resume doesn’t have to be complicated.

The right resume font should be clear, professional, and easy to read. Stick with proven options like Calibri, Cambria, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond, use a readable font size (usually 11–12 pt), and avoid decorative fonts that make your resume harder to scan.

If you want your resume to look polished and modern:

• Prioritize readability

• Use a professional, widely available font

• Keep formatting clean and consistent

• Match your resume and cover letter fonts

A strong font choice won’t replace great experience but it absolutely helps your experience get noticed faster.